Abstract
In this study, 1-year real life performance of a 30kWp rooftop solar PV power plant installed at the Köprübaşı Vocational School of the Manisa Celal Bayar University was evaluated and is presented here. The PV plant is comprised of 116 polycrystalline modules mounted 15 cm proud of the roof surface providing a gap between roof surface and the bottom of the panels for air circulation. The panels were tilted at 12° with horizontal and orientated at an azimuth angle of −20°. Measured power output of the plant was compared against the predictions of a spreadsheet based simulation model developed. Results were found to be in excellent agreement with the measured values. Annual array yield, final yield and reference yield values of the system that produced 45,592 kWh of energy, under an average 1,818 kWh/m2/a radiation incident on the panels inclined surfaces, were found to be 4.25, 4.97 and 4.16 h/d, respectively. The annual performance ratio of the system has been calculated as 83.61% and the capacity factor 17.35%. It has been determined that the power plant displaced 23.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2018.
Highlights
There is a huge interest in deploying rooftop solar PV plants
Measured radiation and temperature values Solar radiation was measured by using a pyranometer installed in-plane with the solar panels titled at 12o and the temperature of the PV panels was measured at the back surface using thermocouples and with the data collected by a data logger recording every 5 minutes providing hourly average values
Real life measured performance parameters for a rooftop PV power plant deployed in Koprubasi, Manisa in Turkey have been presented
Summary
In the lack of publicly accessible power plant performance data, decision-making process often relies on computer models or very minimal measured data from nearby power plants that may not be directly similar to the ones being considered for deployment This potentially could result into misleading predictions, energy production or financial, upfront at planning stage, which even could dissuade future investors. A combination of factors such as high irradiation and low average daytime ambient temperature has led the studied power plant to record one of the highest specific yield of 1519.7 kWh/kWp/year. Such studies are expected to enhance consumers’ confidence in solar PV technology leading to a higher uptake without requiring any government or policy support worldwide
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